The Dynamic Great Lakes (Paperback)

~ Barbara Spring (Author) "The Great Lakes are a flowing river of seas left behind by Ice Age glaciers and are nearly twenty percent of the world's supply of..." (more)
Key Phrases: Lake Erie, Lake Michigan, Lake Ontario (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Intriguing for adults--the straightforward presentation also lends itself to use in schools, beginning about the sixth grade and up. -- U. S. Water News Co -Published by The Freshwater Society 5-6 2002
Book Review U. S. Water News Co Published by the Freshwater

Product Description

The five Great Lakes, Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario with their connecting waters are the world?s largest freshwater system; about 20 per cent of all the fresh surface water on this planet. Each lake differs from the other and yet these connected lakes are one flowing system connected to the Atlantic through the St. Lawrence River. Unique ecosystems evolved in these lakes since the last Ice Age but in the last 200 years commercial fishing and the Lamprey Eel wiped out larger fish. Shipping on the Great Lakes from all parts of the world has brought exotic species that threaten to topple food pyramids. Pollution carried through the air and water damages life in and around these lakes. Through knowledge, and the democratic process, The Dynamic Great Lakes encourages us to appreciate and understand these lakes and to get involved in finding answers to their problems.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 113 pages
• Publisher: Independence Books; 3rd edition (January 11, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1588517314
• ISBN-13: 978-1588517319
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 6.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #716,775 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #76 in

  Books > Outdoors & Nature > Ecology > Lakes & Ponds

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Many of us know very little about the five Great Lakes, April 25, 2004

By	Norman Goldman "Editor of Bookpleasures.com" (Montreal) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Many of us know very little about the five Great Lakes other than perhaps being able to name them. As Barbara Spring states in her introduction to her outstanding primer The Dynamic Great Lakes they are "a flowing river of seas left behind by Ice Age glaciers and are nearly twenty percent of the world's supply of fresh surface water; the world's greatest freshwater system." The ecosystem of this great body of water is very complex and unfortunately due to pollution and the fallout of modern industry and agriculture they have gone through a gradual transformation.

One of the unique characteristics of this compact book is that it is written in a language devoid of esoteric explanations. The eight chapters of the book reflect the author's teaching and journalistic aptitudes in knowing how to unravel the mystery of the Great Lakes and the many painful dangers it has faced and continues to face.

Each of the five Lakes is introduced with a brief synopsis of important elements distinguishing one from the other such as: elevation, length, breadth, average depth, maximum depth, volume, water area, retention time, population and outlet. From this point of departure the author deals with the various changes that have taken place as well as the various major issues affecting the Lakes. There are also brief descriptions of the various animal life found in each of the Lakes and how they have been affected by pollution and the appearance of harmful species, such as the Lamprey Eel.

However, we are also reminded throughout the reading of the book that "people power" can have an effect and if we band together and make our voices heard we could exert influence in reversing some of the harmful trends that have caused ecological disaster. For example we are apprised of the situation that occurred in relation to Lake Erie. In 1969 a tributary river of Lake Erie, the Cayahoga, caught on fire due to being heavily coated with oil and debris. As a result, the Federal Water Quality Administration launched a one and half billion dollar municipal sewage treatment program for the Erie Basin which included the five surrounding states: Michigan, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, and Indiana.

The conclusion of the book most appropriately reminds us that: "we are all challenged to use our knowledge, creativity and common sense to keep the Great Lakes great. Can you think of ways to think globally and act locally?" We are also warned " life on earth is only possible as long as our limited life support system works."

Norm Goldman Editor of Bookpleasures.com

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended Reading, February 21, 2003

By A Customer

I would recommend this book to anyone who lives on or near the Great Lakes or to anyone interested in preserving the environment. The author taught me as much about the havoc the modern world has strewn on the natural world as she did about Superior, Huron, Michigan, Ontario, and Erie.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Written out of appreciation, March 26, 2002

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Written out of appreciation for a most marvelous natural ecosystem, The Dynamic Great Lakes by Barbara Spring is an excellent written, insightfully presented, and engaging guide to the true natures of Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. Chapters cover how the Great Lakes were formed, their physical characteristics and the history of their changes, problems that affect them today and offered solutions, and more. An important contribution to our understanding of the Great Lakes system, The Dynamic Great Lakes is a wondrous and informative read, recommended for school and community library environmental studies reading lists and reference collections.